Favorite Fifteen of 2015

By Jane LurieJanuary 9, 2016 ( 123 )

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Choosing favorites. It’s a weighty proposition and I find that the yearly challenge of culling through thousands of images and deciding which ones make the cut is a creative, philosophical and enlightening exercise.

On the 4th anniversary of Jane’s Lens, I am grateful for my family, friends and fellow bloggers who have followed and supported my photography. Your interest in my work and your encouragement is appreciated every day. Thank you so much.

I hope you enjoy this year’s review and best wishes for a fantastic 2016!

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Capturing the full moon on the beach in Hawaii with my husband on his birthday is a highlight of the year. He is a great model and wonderfully supportive of my photography so this image means a lot to me.

Blue Moon, Kailua, Hawaii

 

 

The convergence of the sun rising and full moon setting created a phenomenal morning of shooting the bridge. I especially like this image for its painterly qualities of soft light and subtle gradations of color. 

Moonset at Sunrise, Golden Gate Bridge

 

 

“Sometimes serendipity is just intention unmasked.”

~ Elizabeth Berg

 

 

 

I am constantly looking for the light and the following four images are moments that struck me as special for their intense qualities of shadows and light. 

It’s a beautiful blind.

Window Light

 

 

I love the golden hour light here and also the man’s exaggerated shadow on the wall. Small and wonderful moments walking in SF. 

Clinker Brick at Sunset, Russian Hill

 

 

I find it amazing what I encounter on my early morning run. 

Morning Light and Trees, San Francisco

 

 

Frank Gehry’s masterpiece of architecture made even more dramatic with incoming storm clouds. 

Guggenheim Bilboa and Clouds

 

 

 

New Year’s Day 2015 and a serene morning exploring Napa Valley with my husband. The mustard is about to bloom and the fog is creeping over the valley. Pulling all these elements in the landscape together in making this image was a thrill.  

Early Morning Fog and Vineyard, Napa

 

 

Photographing the Bay Bridge on this night was especially fun since the Blood Moon had gotten a great deal of attention.  A wall of fog early on dashed our hopes until it suddenly cleared and the moon appeared. A large crowd of people waiting on the pier in anticipation made this a great San Francisco memory. 

Bay Bridge and Blood Moon

 

 

 

A street photographer’s dream come true in Spain. This colorful jai alai court just got a little more interesting. 

Jai Alai Lovers, San Sebastian

 

 

 

On another winter trip to Napa, I spotted this vineyard from a hill and loved the patterns of the trimmed rows of vines with the last of the red grape leaves. The tight close-up beautifully accentuated the colors and patterns of the vineyard. 

Vineyard Patterns, Napa

 

 

 

I love macro photography and making studies of nature. This close-up of an unopened sunflower bud is full of colors, textures and promise. 

Sunflower Bud

 

 

 

The beaches in Hawaii are lined with these incredible succulents. They are bright green with little purple flowers which are quite vibrant, however, it is when I visualized this image in monochrome that the composition really sang for me. 

Beach Succulents, Kailua, Hawaii

 

 

I like the contrast of nature and man-made objects in this scene. These wires are all over San Francisco and when I started to embrace them in my photographs I began to appreciate their patterns against the sky. The birds were an added gift. 

Birds Over Wires, San Francisco

 

 

 

 

My beloved Kiawah Island. We said goodbye last month after living there for fifteen years. I made this image in December and it epitomizes for me the many days I spent photographing this beautiful island.

Daybreak and Tidal Pool, Kiawah Island

 

 

 

And finally, a memorable moment in Spain. Bar Nestor is one of the famous tapas bars in San Sebastian and this man ran the place with a joy that was infectious. A most memorable time with good friends, great food and the most friendly bartender in town.

Pouring One, San Sebastian

Here are a some of my past years in review:

2014

2013

 

And, here’s to a year of growth, learning, creative exploration and adventures! 

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“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” 

~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

 

 

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Categories: Black and White, City Scenes, Landscapes, Lines and Shadows, Nature, Night Photography, Photography, Travel, Weekly Photo ChallengeTags: Black and White, Favorites, Golden Gate Bridge, Inspiration, Kiawah Island, Landscapes, Nature, Photography, San Francisco, Spain, Travel, Weekly Photo Challenge, Year in Review

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